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Crazy for Quinoa

The popularity of Quinoa (kinwa) has been on the rise for the past couple years. It’s no surprise that today you can find it stocked on many of the shelves of your local grocery stores. Quinoa is usually considered to be a whole grain and can be prepared like a whole grain, but it is actually a seed. It’s native to Chile, Bolivia, and Peru where they have been eating this highly nutritious food for over 5,000 years! This tiny grain is packed with quality protein and is higher in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, and zinc than wheat, barley, or corn. Not only do I love it for its nutritious benefits, but it is also extremely versatile when it comes to cooking. You can make anything from breakfast to savory lunch and dinners to desserts! Here are a few of my favorite quinoa recipes:

1. Microwave Cinnamon Maple Breakfast Quinoa

This recipe is the perfect way to start of your morning! With this technique, it lessons the amount of time it takes to cook quinoa by cooking it in the microwave instead. It’s consistency makes it feel like you’re eating a bowl of oatmeal, but with twice the protein and fiber. Add bananas, milk, cinnamon, maple syrup, fruit, or whatever it is that you like to top it off! To learn more about this recipe click here.

2. Summer Barbecue Quinoa Salad

This salad is perfect for those upcoming hot summer afternoons. Although it takes a bit of time to create, it is definitely worth the effort. The recipe includes chicken, beans, corn, roasted red peppers, and so much more to add to its delicious flavor. It tastes great by itself cold or if you’re feeling creative, stuff it into a tortilla and eat it as a BBQ quinoa salad taco. To read the recipe click here.

3. Chipotle Quinoa Sweet Potato Tacos

This next recipe makes my mouth water just reading it. Quinoa serves as a great alternative to rice, which is high in carbs and low in protein. The sweet potato is great for vegetarians, but can also be substituted for meat. This recipe also includes a list of ingredients to make a delicious roasted cranberry pomegranate salsa. Clickhere to take a look!

If you’re looking for more ways to eat quinoa, here’s a link that lists out 50 Quinoa recipes to choose from.